Regional Planning shelves project at church site after homeowners voice concerns

A planned multi-story apartment complex at the site of a Del Rey church has been tabled until October.

The Los Angeles County Regional Planning Department has pushed back its first review of a proposed 196-unit project with a three-story parking garage that Dinerstein Cos. is seeking permission to build until Oct. 6.

The developer is requesting a zoning change for the project, which several residents who live near the church say is out of character and scale of the surrounding single family homes.

Josh Vasbinder, a Dinerstein vice president, told The Argonaut earlier this month that his company will continue to work with community members throughout the planning process.

“We’re a family owned company, and we’ve demonstrated our willingness to continue to work with the community,” the Dinerstein executive said.

The developer contends that the project site, where the City of Angeles Church at 5555 Grovesnor Blvd. north of Jefferson Boulevard is located, has been underutilized for years.

The planned development is located within county territory, although it is surrounded by city streets.

Over 20 speakers addressed the commission at the July 14 hearing to voice their concerns about the project, which include its level of density, height and the loss of esthetics and view corridors some believe will occur if the apartment complex is built as proposed.

Susan Boyer, one of the owners of Club Marina, an apartment building on Jefferson, said she was happy that the commission postponed hearing the project review for another two months.

“I think we successfully provided the commission with our reasons for not wanting to go along with this project,” she said. “I felt like they listened to us and now we have more time to work out some of the differences that we have with the developer.”

The county Board of Supervisors will ultimately have the final word on whether the apartment complex is given the green light.

Ed Maddox, Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas’ senior chief deputy, said the supervisor would likely wait until the final environmental analysis is completed before weighing in on the planned development.

“Typically, the supervisor would not comment until a project has reached its full environmental review,” Maddox told The Argonaut July 6. Ridley-Thomas’ district includes Del Rey.

Los Angeles City Councilman Bill Rosendahl has also expressed his hope that the developer will reconsider the height of the project along with the variance request.

In a letter to Anthony Curzi in the Regional Planning Department in April, Rosendahl discussed many of the things that his constituents have complained about in meetings with Dinerstein.

“My constituents who live near this project, within the Los Angeles community of Del Rey, have serious concerns about this project,” the councilman, who represents Del Rey, wrote. “With the proposed increases in both height and density, this apartment complex potentially threatens this neighborhood’s quality of life.”

Because the property is on county land, Los Angeles city officials have no official standing on the project.

Nevertheless, Boyer is grateful for Rosendahl’s assistance.

“He has been very responsive to us,” said Boyer, who is scheduled to meet with the councilman on Friday, July 30 to discuss the planned apartment complex.

Vasbinder of Dinerstein Cos. did not return calls for comment on the delay of the proposal.